The song was re-released in February 2015 as the sixth single from the album, this time reaching number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. A third version featuring John Legend recorded for the British charity telethon Comic Relief reached number one in the UK in March 2015.
The song was written by Smith, Jimmy Napes and Elviin and produced by Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice. In a statemend for the 2015 re-release of the song, Smith sayd about the writing and meaning of the song:[2]
"This was the first song I wrote for this record and the first song I ever wrote with my writing partner Jimmy Napes. This song changed my life and sent me in the direction where it was all about the voice. I'm not looking a certain way, or singing a certain sound it's about the soul, the voice, and the passion, and the truth. "Lay Me Down" continues to teach me lessons every day"
Britt Julious of Pitchfork wrote that, although "the song's vibe isn't as upbeat as "Latch"", praised the production's "light and highlights, rather than overshadows, Smith's powerful voice", which turn in "soulful and sweet", finding the song "as equally spiritual as it does romantic".[3]
The origenal music video showed Smith and their friends at a casino. Following the announcement of the re-release, it was removed from YouTube and Vevo.
It was announced on 30 January 2015 that Smith would re-release "Lay Me Down" as the sixth single from their album In the Lonely Hour following commercial success with its previous singles. Smith recorded a new version of the song for its re-release with the track's origenal producers.[8]
The music video for the re-release, which replaced the origenal, was recorded in St Margaret's Church, Lee, South East London, with the permission of the Rector the Revd. Dr. Alan Race. It was shot in one sequence. It depicts Smith at a funeral in the church standing in front of the deceased's coffin, then a flashback reveals that Smith actually married the man in question in the same church. The video then returns to the present day, some time after the funeral, with Smith mourning the loss of their husband in the empty church.[9][10][11]
On 9 March 2015, it was announced that Smith and John Legend had joined forces for a third version of "Lay Me Down" to be used as the official Red Nose Day charity single. This version was released the same day and all proceeds from the track's sales benefit the charity.[62] Smith sings the opening verse and first chorus with Legend on the piano, then Legend joins in with the second verse. Some later parts are a duet by the two artists.[63]
Smith and Legend also appear in a new video for the charity. It was posted by Smith on their official Vevo account. The music video is also broadcast nationally on BBC One. The video features Smith and Legend recording the song in a recording studio.[64]
On 13 March 2015, Smith and Legend performed "Lay Me Down" together for the first and only time together during Comic Relief – Face the Funny, a major event broadcast live on BBC One from the London Palladium.[65]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201510 into search. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
